HOME. BRIAN: DISTANCE LEARNING IS ESSENTIAL. EDIE: BRANDI CUMMINGS IS LIVE. RANDY: - BRANDI: TONY THURMOND HELD A VIRTUAL NEWS CONFERENCE IN WHICH HE TOLD FAMILIES THAT IT IS UP TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO ULTIMATELY DECIDE WHEN THEY WILL REOPEN. HE IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDING THAT SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS FOCUS ON DISTANCE LEARNING THROUGH THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. STUDENTS MAY NOT GET A GRADUATION CEREMONY IN MAY OR JUNE AND SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE LOOKING INTO SOCIAL DISTANCING GRADUATION CEREMONIES. HE ARGUE THAT. SHE ADDED THAT GRADUATING SENIORS COULD BE ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE WITH CREDIT IN BLUE OF WET HER GRADES THROUGH THE SPRING OF WINTER IN 2020. THE UC SYSTEM SAYS I WILL NOT INCLUDE SAT SCHOOLS AS PART OF THE DECISION FOR ADMISSION. WHILE STUDENTS ARE NOT PHYSICALLY IN CLASSES, SCHOOL IS NOT OUT. >> SCHOOL IS STILL IN SESSION AND WE HAVE HAD TO SHIFT TO DOING DISTANCE LEARNING AS A WAY WE DELIVER EDUCATION. WE KNOW IT IS A CHALLENGE. WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH COVID-19 IS A PANDEMIC, WHI MEANS A WORLDWIDE HEALTH CRISIS. WE HAVE TO TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION. THE BEST THING WE CAN DO YOU -- USE DISTANCE LEARNING TO EDUCATE THEM. BRANDI: BEEN FORGED A PARTNERSHIP WITH GOOGL ADDING 100,000 ACCESS POINTS TO BOOST WI-FI AND BROADBAND CAPACITY. THE COMPANY IS PROVIDING A MINIMUM THREE MONTHS OF SERVICE FREE, AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF PRO-LOOKS TO DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE. GOVERN NEWSOM GOT A WAIVE FOR FAMILIES THAT RELY ON SCHOOL FOR MEALS. GOVERNOR NEWSOM ANNOUNCING THIS MAJOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN TEACHERS CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES, SCHOOL BOARDS, PRINCIPLES, ALL TO PROVIDE THAT FRAMEWORK, THE SPECIFICS OF HOW THEY SHOULD BE PROVIDING THIS DISTANCE LEARNING. EMPLOYEES WILL CONTINUE GET PAID THROUGH THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. IT OUTLINES EMPLOYEE EXPECTATIO

California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond is encouraging an extension of school closures and a push for distance learning as COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the country.Thurmond said in a video conference while it is up to local school districts on when to reopen their campuses, distance learning is essential to keep children safe in a way that helps them continue their education.The superintendent emphasized that physical closures of campuses does not mean the academic year is not in session. He said the State Department of Education is working with several agencies and organizations to increase access to internet and tools for distance learning."School is still in session and we've had to shift to doing distance learning as the way that we deliver education," Thurmond said. "We know it is a tall order, we know it is a challenge, we know that we're experiencing a health challenge we have not seen before but what's happening with COVID-19 is a pandemic, which means a world wide health crisis. We have to take every precaution and out of an abundance of caution. The best thing we can do to keep our kids safe is to use distance learning to education them."Students graduating in May or June will likely have their ceremonies either postponed or switched to a virtual format, Thurmond said. However, graduating seniors and community college students looking to transfer can be accepted into colleges with a credit/no credit pass in lieu of letter grades through the spring and winter of 2020.Watch the video above for more details.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond is encouraging an extension of school closures and a push for distance learning as COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the country.

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Thurmond said in a video conference while it is up to local school districts on when to reopen their campuses, distance learning is essential to keep children safe in a way that helps them continue their education.

The superintendent emphasized that physical closures of campuses does not mean the academic year is not in session. He said the State Department of Education is working with several agencies and organizations to increase access to internet and tools for distance learning.

"School is still in session and we've had to shift to doing distance learning as the way that we deliver education," Thurmond said. "We know it is a tall order, we know it is a challenge, we know that we're experiencing a health challenge we have not seen before but what's happening with COVID-19 is a pandemic, which means a world wide health crisis. We have to take every precaution and out of an abundance of caution. The best thing we can do to keep our kids safe is to use distance learning to education them."

Students graduating in May or June will likely have their ceremonies either postponed or switched to a virtual format, Thurmond said.

However, graduating seniors and community college students looking to transfer can be accepted into colleges with a credit/no credit pass in lieu of letter grades through the spring and winter of 2020.